Florida manatees used to be classified as endangered species, which can get more protection. But, in 2017 they were reclassified as threatened. The new proposed rule said there are many initiatives to manage the species including efforts to improve water quality and restore seagrass.

Nearly 2,000 Florida manatees died in 2021 and 2022. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the sea cows’ plight does not fit the definition of endangered.

Watercraft manatee deaths were up in 2024 as 96 sea cows were hit and killed by vessels in the Sunshine State. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or FWC, is reporting that 565 manatee deaths were recorded by the state agency last year.

The proposed rule would keep the Florida manatee as a threatened species, continuing its status since being delisted as endangered in 2017. A public hearing is set for Feb. 26.

However, some environmental groups hoped to have the Florida manatee uplisted as an endangered species, potentially bringing more resources to recovery efforts. On Monday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a proposed rule that would keep the Florida manatee at threatened and uplist the Antillean manatee,

Federal wildlife officials releasing a proposal that would continue to classify Florida manatees as a threatened species, after environmentalists argued they should be reclassified as endangered. For decades,